I have been an avid student and practitioner of traditions in Western Herbalism for more than 25 years. My family owns and operates Greenstar Farm and Apothecary, a certified organic produce and medicinal herb farm in the southern Appalachian mountains established in 1991. As an herbalist, I specialize in growing, foraging, producing and marketing locally a full line of plant medicines, with the help of apprentices. I run a small free clinic, and also see clients on a barter and sliding scale basis. Specialties include: helping folks move through and past Lyme disease, incorporating homeopathic remedies into a holistic protocol, and teaching folks how to grow and make their own medicines. I work with clients of all ages and am especially interested in working with those who are underserved. I am passionate about helping folks take charge of their health through building a relationship with plants and the natural world. I am available for consultations, to teach classes, lead weed walks, and as a lecturer. My 2019 book Greenstar Folk Herbal: Do It Yourself Plant Medicines For The People is available directly from me and at local outlets. It is an entry level herbal geared towards those who are beginning their relationship with plant medicines

Nutrition and herbal support for fertility, pregnancy, and menstrual health; community and continuing education for highly-trained herbal practitioners

Mel is a practicing clinical herbalist, educator, poet, and emergent facilitator. Currently, she holds the positions of Clinical Program Director and Free Clinic Manager at the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine. In these roles, she helps clients to get the support they need while guiding students through the rigorous process of preparing for and participating in active clinicals.
Mel's passion lies in both serving clients and empowering students to develop the essential relational health and clinical skills required to excel as herbal practitioners. Through her clinic work, art and class facilitation, she explores the intersections of herbalism, botany, society, and somatic experiencing to support plant-centered botanical medicine and celebrate the teeming diversity life has to offer.
In her private practice, she blends traditional western herbalism and clinical nutrition with somatic herbal practices. She recognizes the significance of addressing personal and societal traumas as an integral part of the healing journey. This profound understanding shapes her approach, as she guides individuals toward greater well-being and helps them navigate the complexities of their own healing processes.